Monthly Archives: July 2016

Text- Sometimes all it takes is the written word to lift your soul from the humdrum of everyday life. These are the wordsmiths that can take you by the hand and induce the most austere sense of wanderlust, taking you to the edge of the world – and back, evoking the same spell of travelling with the land of sophisticated and creative civilization- BIHAR.

In recent times, many of us have witnessed Bihar being metamorphosing into an escape where guests lay into lazy rhythm of the nature. If anyone would have heard about Bihar some decades back for the first time, what they would have learnt must be about the state giving some of the most diligent IAS officers to the country.

CONNECTING WITH THE HEART OF BIHAR

Patna Sahib

Tranquility is easily found in the French Quarter, but nowhere is it as compelling as in the meditative silence around the serene vicinity of Patna Sahib.

Patna city has the unique distinction of being honored by the holy presence of the Buddha, Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur. Besides, it is also the birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh.

Gurudwara Patna Sahib is one of the most important Takht. As a place that enjoyed the presence of three Sikh Gurus, Gurudwara Patna Sahib is worth visiting. This shrine is one of the most important centers for the Sikhs in eastern India. The various relics preserved here also make it very important.

The place will be bejeweled in all its glory on January 10th when hundreds of people will gather there to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Nalanda University

Located in the town of Rajgir Nalanda is a postgraduate, research intensive, international university supported by the participating countries of the East Asia Summit. The University came into being on November 25, 2010 by a special Act of the Indian Parliament and has been designated as an “institution of national importance”.

Nalanda is inspired by the academic excellence and global vision of its historic predecessor and aspires to meet and set global standards of academic excellence and research and enable capacity building in all areas of higher learning. The University is being supported by all the Member States of the East Asia Summit and Intergovernmental Memorandums of Understanding to that effect have been signed by 17 countries.

Bihar is currently focusing on nurturing four diverse genres, namely:

Budhist

The legendary spiritual enlightenment site of the Buddha under the holy Bodhi tree has become the magnetic point for human congregation ever since. The magnificent Mahabodhi temple that had been declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO is a great source of peace.

Hindu

This place is considered holy among the Hindus, the Buddhists and the Jains. It is surrounded by small rocky hills (Mangla- Gauri, Shringa-Sthan, Ram-Shila and Brahmayoni) by three sides and the river flowing on the fourth (eastern) side.

Jain

The Cradle of luminous Jain Spiritual souls lies in Bihar. Bihar is the sacred destination as the birthplace of the 12th Tirthankar “Vasupujya” and 24th Tirthankar Mahavira. Their non-violent ascetic path became very popular and become one of the prominent religions of India.

Sufi

Jehanabad is mentioned in the ‘Ain-i- Akbari’, written by Mughal emperor Akbar’s court historian and poet Abul Fazl. Jahanara Aurangzeb’s sister supervised the Mandi herself and spent a lot of time at this place. Later, the area became known as Jehanabad.

BLURRED LINES OF ART

Few could have predicted the rise of Bihar as an art destination. The city always had political diversities, demographical parameters, finance community- but as a destination for art and culture? Yet, today, art lovers around the world speak of Bihar in the same way they speak of Berlin and Sao Paulo.

Art fairs emphasizing local talent may evoke images of tents filled with bad seascape paintings. But Bihar’s stone pottery and madhubani paintings eviscerates any piece of art from the nook and corners of the world.

Art and Bihar go hand in hand, the rich and prosperous history of Bihar has also promoted the music, dance, paintings and crafts throughout generations. The various folk cultures form a unique style of performance and genre which originates or have been imbibed within the regional pattern. The spiritual music of the Bhajaniayas and Kirtaniyas are quite popular during religious events of the Hindus. The classical music was also nurtured in the region with the regular exchange of artists and performers from neighboring areas of Lucknow, Benaras and Delhi.

FESTIVITIES BEGIN HERE

The beauty of the place unfolds with the larger than life picture painted with the onset of its festivals. The traditional festivals not only mark revelers but also keep alive the deeper meanings of bonding with nature which are indeed thought provoking.

With a view to develop a healthy socio-economic scenario; the Bihar Government promotes the festival spree as one of the most critical tools. It creates financial opportunities as well as rendering harmony in this multi communal society.

The major religious festivals of Bihar most of the time revolve around Nature as the deity to be worshipped. In the Chatt Puja the ‘Setting Sun’ is worshipped by all the devotees. Although Sun had been worshipped as a god by most of the civilizations the worship of the Setting Sun by the Biharis gives it a special unique feature. Celebrated twice a year in Chaitra and Kartik months of the Hindu calendar, the rituals to be performed near any water bodies make the rivers, lakes and the ponds of Bihar a colourful panorama. The Deo Sun temple is most revered amongst numerous Sun temples around rivers and tanks believed to be sacred and visited by scores of devotees. Through the passage of time, people from other religious beliefs also have started to participate in the festival giving it a true secular flavor.

A SILENT MELODY

If one wants to find real inner calm, the peaceful Buddhist region of Bihar in eastern India will definitely rebalance him/her better than any spa retreat. Lee Marshall checks into some homestays. Any elaboration of the state Bihar is incomplete without the mentioning one of its best attractions called Bodh Gaya.

It is a city in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place of Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment.

Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the Nairanjana River with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realising that austerities could not lead to realisation he abandoned them. His five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for Sarnath.
He then moved towards the village of Senani where he was offered rice milk by a Brahmin girl, Sujata. Accepting from a grass-cutter a gift of kusa grass for a mat, the Bodhisattva took a seat under a pipal tree facing east. Here he resolved not to rise again until enlightenment was attained.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

THE POSH SPICE

Sometimes on late afternoons, when the sunshine is mellow and warm, one ambles through the narrow, snoozing lanes where trees meet overhead where commercial establishments hum beside crumbling Bihar houses, held fast by sturdy old pillars and verandas built for weary passers-by in a more trusting age.

And then it happens. That familiar twinge of the surreal as one acknowledges that it is possible to leave behind one world and step into a starkly different one by the mere act of crossing a canal.

While the broad, sun-dappled boulevards greet the people sitting on the roof top of a serene restaurant and relishing the most authentic Khajuria ever, on the other side lined with mustard, apricot and tangerine walls with bursts of bougainvillea cascading over them; there is often a bicyclist pedaling by.

Catching glimpse of the clear blue sky and having steaming hot Litti Chokha is one feeling that is hard to be replaced by anything in the world. Beyond the stretches of the holy Ganga water, cordoned off by craggy rocks, which the river sometimes whispers to and sometimes whips, its waves crashing all over them.

It is not by chance that India is the fastest growing economy in the world. If Congressmen in US chose to give Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi a standing ovation, it was because India has emerged as a global leader, which has been possible through several development initiatives.

For the financial year 2015–16, the Indian economy has grown by 7.6 per cent, and in the last quarter of the fiscal, the growth rate has been 7.9 per cent. Inflation has also been contained around five per cent and forex reserves are looking good.

The global demand for electronic hardware is expected to increase rapidly to USD 400 billion by 2020; thus, India has the potential to become an electronic manufacturing hub. Consequently, as a strategic plan, the Indian government has set a goal to achieve net zero imports of electronics by 2020 by creating a level playing field and providing an enabling environment.

The recently held “Make in India Week” at the MMRDA Grounds at the Bandra–Kurla Complex in Mumbai from 13 February 2016, was attended by 2,500 international and 8,000 domestic companies, which promised over Rs. 15.2 lakh crore (USD 230 billion) worth of investment commitments.
India is also making reforms in various industries even if it requires changes in the policy. The various transformations include creation of job opportunities, a digital infrastructure, governance & services on demand and digital empowerment of citizens.

The government is also planning to create 28,000 seats of BPOs in various States and set up at least one Common Service Centre in each of the Gram Panchayats in each state. 11 technology initiatives were announced in the 2016 Union Budget of India. These include the use of data analytics to nab tax evaders. Digital Literacy mission will cover six crore rural households. It is planned to connect 550 farmer markets in the country through the use of technology.

INDIA–AFRICA FORUM SUMMITS

India has strengthened its African ties recently. The India–Africa Forum Summits – three since 2008 and last in 2015 – have helped in creating transformative relationships between India and Africa through strategic cooperation and plans to transform shared aspirations into reality.

India’s development assistance to Africa is next only to the United Nations, Japan and China, and since 2008 around USD 17.4 billion have been pledged by India for augmenting Africa’s development.

India has also created a grant assistance fund of 600 million US dollars to Africa including an India–Africa Development Fund of 100 million and an India–Africa Health Fund of 10 million US dollars.

TRANSFORMING THE DOMESTIC STRUCTURE

The various initiatives that have not only transformed the domestic economic structure of India, but have also catapulted it to the top spot in the world economy, include the following:

Make in India: It encourages domestic and multi-national companies to manufacture their products in India. It targets to make India the top destination globally for foreign direct investment, surpassing even the USA and China. India received USD 63 billion as FDI in 2015.

Make in India’s main objective is to focus on job creation and skill enhancement in 25 sectors of the economy. In addition, it would also increase the quality of products being made in India simultaneously minimising the impact on the environment. The initiative is expected to attract capital and technological investment in India.

Skilling India: The aim of this ambitious project is to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022. It includes various sub-initiatives of the government such as “National Skill Development Mission”, “National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship”, “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)” and the “Skill Loan scheme”.
Digital India: It makes available government services to citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity or by making the country digitally empowered in the field of technology. It was launched on 2 July 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Startup India: The action plan for Startup India contains several positive initiatives for Indian startups mainly easing up various regulatory, legal, financial and other challenges faced by them. Startup India targets to build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation and startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large-scale employment opportunities. The startup movement is spreading from digital/technology sector agriculture, manufacturing, social sector, healthcare, education, etc., and from existing tier-1 cities to tier-2 and tier-3 cities including semi-urban and rural areas.

MEETING CHALLENGES HEAD ON

Challenges have to be met squarely to create a balanced growth within various industries and sectors. Industry-wise, the challenge lies for small companies that are constrained in their ability to provide a differentiated customer experience and establish a structured approach toward financial controls and risk assessments.

India’s difficult business environment needs to be eased, the tedious processes need to be relaxed and compliance requirements for doing business must be minimized or eliminated.
In addition, the competitiveness needs to be increased, domestically and globally. In the global scenario, India must reach a position where it can face global companies confidently.

Despite the challenges, the outlook for India’s growth for the next decade is bright, mainly because of the favourable demographic dividend and increased economic prosperity.
The announcement of the INR 100-billion fund for risk capital investment in start-ups in the Union Budget and the launch of Mudra Bank in April 2015 with a corpus of INR 200 million should also help potential firms.

Africa is a land of opportunities. It’s quite different from a general image of death and despair or Afro-pessimism portrayed by the media. It’s a large continent, comprising several countries, and mostly the region is growing. There is a need to understand the current growth and developments in the region to nullify the historically governed negative stereotyped perceptions of the continent.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

As per the World Bank Report 2016, “Africa is among the fastest growing regions in the world.” The global trends and region-specific risks keep fluctuating. A positive observation by the World Bank includes, “The incidence of extreme poverty has fallen – from 57% in 1990 to 43% in 2012.” It further observes, “Addressing the sources of vulnerability and building resilience is critical to maintain solid growth rates and sustain the progress made so far in reducing poverty and achieving the development goals. To continue to make progress on its development goals and achieve structural transformation, Africa must capitalize on the significant growth opportunities.”

The IMF has reported that overall, the African continent achieved average real annual GDP growth of 5.4% between 2000 and 2010, adding $78 billion annually to GDP (in 2015 prices). Though growth slowed to 3.3%, or $69 billion, a year between 2010 and 2015, Africa still holds the potential to write another growth success story.
There have been challenging conditions in some parts of the continent,nevertheless, the rest of Africa has been able to maintain a state of optimism growing with stable rates of GDP and productivity growth.

WHERE THE FUTURE LIES

There are three positive trends that are going to keep the lions on the move: Firstly, the continent has a young population with a growing labour force – a highly valuable asset in an ageing world. Secondly, Africa is still in the phase of urbanization, and the immense benefits of urbanization are yet to be harnessed. This urban expansion will definitely contribute to rapid growth in consumption by households and businesses, which is a good sign for industries. Thirdly, the rapid technological advancement that is taking place in African economies is going to create uncountable avenues leading to growth and reducing the cost of physical infrastructure in important areas of economic life.
Another reason to feel buoyant is the fact that the infrastructure investment is also rising continuously as spending on infrastructure has doubled over the past decade, and now stands at 3.5% of GDP.

WHERE DOES THE POTENTIAL LIE

The word here is “potential”. The state of growth in the economy may fluctuate but companies and investors need to identify the sectors and areas where the potential lies. The data shows that a specific strategic approach is going to be more fruitful, i.e. growth and stability of individual countries should be measured and accordingly investment decisions must be taken.

THE ROAD AHEAD

The policy-makers – both government and businesses – need to work together to cash in on the potentials and the positives as soon as possible. The need to accelerate economic reforms, to strengthen the infrastructure and promote growth, is high. As a priority, exports and national revenue sources need to be diversified, because dependence on resources alone leads to volatility in the economy as resource prices may change dramatically – as has been the past experience. This can be done through better tax and customs collections, increasing savings and finding better uses of domestic resources, so dependence on external factors can be minimized.

Further, pension provisions need to be increased, banking and financial services need to be made more accessible, and capital markets need to attract more finances. Other measures would include better urbanization plans to unlock the full growth opportunity and to make African cities competitive. A stronger and developed power supply and electricity infrastructure would help the business environment immensely. Improvement in the educational systems to develop skills for the present and future challenges, regional integration, and improvement in Africa’s physical & digital infrastructure would make a great impact too.

UNCOVER ENDLESS INSPIRATION

High up in the glistening perpendicular disc that houses Aldar properties’ headquarters on one edge of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island resides harmony. UAE is a place so serene that it compels people from all across the world to witness equanimity in both business and recreation.

Dating back in the year of 1968 when British announced their intention to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf, H. H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the then Ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi promptly acted to form strong bond with the emirates. With H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the then Ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Zayed called for a federation that would include not only the seven emirates that made up the Trucial States, but also Qatar and Bahrain. The UAE was formally established on 2 December 1971. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah became the seven emirates to be a part of UAE.

A PLACE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

Nothing worthwhile comes easy, UAE has also experienced its share of adversities to become one of the most sought after cultural destination of today’s’ time. It is rightly said to be home to a rich cultural heritage that has been strongly influenced by its unique environment.

UAE has a varied terrain; desert, oasis, mountains and coast, dictated the traditional lifestyles that evolved over the centuries. A resilience and resourcefulness necessary to survive in these harsh conditions was fostered by society’s age-old tribal structure: each family was traditionally bound by obligations of mutual assistance to its immediate relatives and to the tribe as a whole. Among the tribe an individual’s selfless hospitality was the source of his honor and pride.

People looking out for cultural expedition can delve into the country’s Bedouin past on starry desert nights before exploring the many forts that guarded the coastline long before the domination of the glitzy high rises. A handful of them are listed below:

BURJ KHALIFA

The Burj Khalifa is one of the United Arab Emirates most famous buildings and the soaring sky-high landmark of Dubai. Not only it is the world’s tallest building, but it also lays claim to the titles of tallest freestanding structure in the world, highest observation deck in the world and elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. A trip up to the observation deck with its panoramic views across Dubai is a sightseeing highlight for most tourists who visit Dubai.

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a mammoth modern mosque of incredible beauty. Harnessing contemporary design and ancient craftsmanship skills, the mosque is a harmonious blend of modern and old. It doesn’t fail to dazzle all who enter with its lavish use of gold, mosaic work and glass work, marble in gigantic proportions and blindingly white stone contrasting dramatically under the Emirati blue sky.

IN ORDER TO BUILD UP

There are many structural changes taking place in the UAE. Several federal ministries, authorities and institutions are being ceased or merged.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced these changes on 8 February 2016 through his official Twitter account as part of the three-day World Government Summit.

“We can’t lead the future with tools from the past, and we can’t accomplish quantum leaps in growth without conceptualizing a new way of governance. Change creates great opportunities and renews ideas and forces everyone to think in a different way. And we will implement all that is good for our people,” he tweeted.

India’s star boxer Vijender Singh added another feather to his cap of achievements by clinching the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title. The 30-year-old player defeated the former WBC European champion Kerry Hope at Delhi’s Thyagraj Stadium and recorded his seventh straight win in the circuit.

Vijender, who has won India’s first Olympic medal for boxing, took all 10 rounds to dismantle the Welsh-born Australian Hope. He scored 98-92, 98-92, 100-90 to be the unanimous winner. He is now ranked 15th in the WBO rankings.

“This comes after a lot of hard work put in by me, my trainer, my team,” an emotional Vijender said after the win I thank my coach, my promoter and my team who have done a fantastic job.” He further added, “It’s not about myself, it’s about my nation, my country.”

An ecstatic Lee Beard who coached Vijender Singh showed his appreciation for the world champion, “When I first saw him, it took just 15 minutes for me to gauge that he will win a world title. I looked into his eyes and I saw a fire. Whatever he seems to focus on, he gets it. Of all the fighters I have trained, he is one of the best when it comes to learning; he is an extremely quick learner.”

It was Vijender’s first bout in his homeland after he turned professional last year. Delhi’s Thyagraj stadium was jam-packed with his fans cheering for him. Many celebrities like Randeep Hooda, Mary Kom, Virender Sehawag, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Rahul Gandhi were also present in the stadium to witness the epic win. As soon as the results were announced, Twitter flooded with congratulatory messages for the champion. Prime Minister and the President also congratulated Vijender for his classic win.

To walk around the streets of Abu Dhabi or travel to witness its historical heritage is to meet the whole world compressed into one gloriously diverse and colorful city.

There is nowhere on earth quite like Abu Dhabi and no country on earth that hasn’t contributed to its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural kaleidoscope of humanity. The impeccable growth shown by the UAE region in recent times is an outcome of sheer hard work and articulate leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He has not only contributed in promoting and developing the country through immeasurable knowledge and innovation, but also comforting his countrymen to bestow their trust in him as a patron at difficult times.

From the glistening city of Dubai to the polished governance of Abu Dhabi, Nahyan has given an alluring skyline to the Middle East. The aroma of the place excites any investor to forget the region’s troubles and make money.

KEEPING CRISIS AT BAY

With the UAE leading the world ranking of being the chief nations across several key indicators, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi and the de-facto national leader disciplines 6 per cent of the world’s oil and its second-richest wealth fund.

With decorum and tranquility as the trademarks of the Nahyan governance, there are no qualms within the citizens about the ruler working in the favor of the countrymen.
As the country savors a famed position in the Arab world, one is likely to hear any one of several hundred languages and dialects as one is to hear Arabic. The UAE region has always been dynamic and proactive in communicating with other countries and building bridges of close cooperation and strategic partnerships to lead the way in political, economic, commercial, industrial, technological, scientific, educational, health and other sectors.

In the past couple of years Nahyan has not only worked for the development of the region, but has also enhanced protection of small investors by preventing any subsidiary from obtaining shares in the parent company. A prevailing rule states that in the case of acquisition of 50% or more of the company, the acquired party should receive approval from shareholders, a step considered by the report to be an enabling one that safeguards the interests of investors.

According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, 2014, UAE was ranked as the top Arab country for well-being and life satisfaction and fifth globally. The report further states that they feel absolutely safe in the country. Additionally, the UAE has maintained its presence on the ‘green list’, a classification of some 30 of the prosperous countries across the world. Notably, the UAE has been included on the list since the creation of the report.

BRIDGING BORDERS

Back in 1990, when the US troops were massing in the Arabian Gulf to fight Saddam Hussein, as a young prince serving the Air Force, he started strengthening the nation’s military to be one of the most impressive ones in the world.

Today, he has created a world-class country where people from different parts of the world visit for both business and leisure. The people one passes on the street reflect such a wide range of races that depict a perfect amalgamation of class and culture.

The prince has bequeathed the trust of his people in the rich cultural diversity that the liberals see women in the niqab and acknowledge that none of us can or should impose our societal norms on anybody else. Nahyan has successfully established a high and dignified position for the position of his women in the society.
With the self-proclaimed Islamic State taking root and Iran rising, Prince is funding his country to have more weapons and be prepared for unforeseen adversities. Nahyan has shown himself to be far more adept at reaching out to the UAE’s many faith communities than a mere ruler.

The efforts of the crown prince can be deeply understood by the fact that UAE is being ranked high on many global competitiveness indicators. According to a 2015 report by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, the country was ranked first among Arab countries in 10 out of a total of 15 global competitiveness reports, as well as first globally in the confidence indicator.

Third year in a row, the UAE was ranked first regionally in global competitiveness and 12th globally according to the 2015 annual World Competitiveness Yearbook. It was also ranked first regionally among the countries of the Mena region and 12th globally in World Economic Forum’s Global Enabling Trade Report 2014. In addition, the country was ranked first globally in three global competitiveness indicators in the tourism sector alone.

STRUCTURING THE SAND

As he raises his country’s standing, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched projects in the UAE stems from the belief that the key driver for shaping a strong and well-developed economy lies in the establishment of a modern infrastructure.

It is considered to be a primary role due to the pivotal role that infrastructure plays in the progress and growth of countries, and in stimulating economic activity.
Following are some of the key projects commenced by the prince:

EXPANSION PROJECT OF SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD:

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai will begin the double-decking of Sheikh Zayed Road, building a 35-kilometre elevated section of highway running from Dubai Creek to Jebel Ali Port. This ambitious project, with an estimated cost of Dh10 billion, will facilitate increased traffic on Dubai’s main arterial road. The RTA has already received bids and implementation offers towards the execution of this project.

THE EXPANSION OF M-STATION:

With a total capacity of 2,060 MW of electricity and 140 million imperial gallons of water per day, the M-Station adopts the highest levels of availability, reliability, and efficiency, using the most advanced technologies in the world.

THE NEW 62-KILOMETRE ABU DHABI- DUBAI HIGHWAY:

Launched in 2013, the Abu Dhabi- Dubai Highway project was awarded to three companies. The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the current main road connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and is expected to be completed by 2017.

EXPANSION OF DUBAI METRO:

The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) launched plans to develop and design the expansion of the Dubai Metro to include 70 stations by 2020, at a total cost of Dh5 billion. The expansion of the Green Line will include 11 new stations stretching over 20 kilometres across Dubai. The Red Line expansion plans include the addition of 3.5 kilometers between the Rashidiya Station to Mirdif City Centre Station as well as an 8 – 10 kilometre expansion from the Jebel Ali Station to the Dubai Expo 2020 venue.

HISYAN DUBAI PROJECT:

The Hisyan Dubai power plant project using coal technologies is the first of its kind in the region. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority awarded the contract for the first phase of the project to a global consulting firm in February 2015. The first phase of the project will have a production capacity of 1,200 MW and is expected to be operational by 2020

DUBAI CANAL PROJECT:

The Emirate of Dubai launched the third phase of the Dubai Canal project, which was started in 2013, and has been adopted by the RTA. A contract worth AED802 million for the third phase of the project was awarded to Belhasa Six Construct Co. The project comprises the construction of a water canal linking Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf.

VITAL STEPS IN SPACE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS:

There is no doubt that investment in space programmes and projects will enhance the status of the UAE and increase the nation’s stature in the regional and international landscape. It represents a fundamental shift in the process of scientific research in the UAE. The projects implemented by the country in this vital area will significantly contribute to the economy, creating new jobs for nationals of high potential.

KHALIFASAT:

Khalifasat, the third advanced satellite launched by the UAE into space, will provide high quality images that fulfill the needs of government organisations and private enterprises. While the initial manufacturing process began in South Korea, the satellite will be completely developed by Emirati workforce.

BUILDING A COUNTRY FULL OF LIFE

In an attempt to make UAE a more vivacious place to be, the command has prioritized its youth from the early days of the Federation and spares no effort in empowering them with access to scientific knowledge and advanced facilities.

Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the UAE government work strategically to provide best-in-class education to Emirati youth qualifying them for the job market. The government also encourages employment of Emiratis in the private sector due to its importance in social and economic development.

Emirati women have received unequivocal support and encouragement from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who in one of his interviews stated, “Nothing pleases me more than seeing Emirati women assuming their role in society and achieving their rightful position. Nothing should hinder the march of women’s progress. Like men, women have the right to assume the highest positions according to their abilities and qualifications.”

The global online taxi firm, Uber has made its debut in Uganda by starting its services in the city of Kampala. After its immense success in other African cities, the online platform was launched in Uganda in the first week of June.

Now, if one is heading to the airport, doing some shopping at Acacia Mall, watching a game at Mandela National Stadium or going out for some late night partying, the affordable ride is just one click away. Celebrating its launch in the capital city of Uganda, Uber provided free rides to the city people for four days.

The city’s rapidly growing infrastructure inspired the company to start its services in the heart of Kampala. “Kampala is a growing city in the heart of Uganda, a country with a fast-growing economy.” Uber said in its official announcement which further read “With its people, energy, innovation, entrepreneurial and rapidly growing economy, Kampala is an exciting place for Uber to bring its services.”

During the official launch in Kampala, Alon Lits, general manager Uber Sub Saharan African stated, “By offering a friendly and reliable complement to existing transport options, we can help improve urban mobility in Kampala.” He further added, “We are mindful of the city’s current traffic congestion, and we aim to be part of the solution in improving it, while creating new, fruitful opportunities for drivers.”

The San-Francisco based taxi hailing service- Uber is already operating in 462 cities across 71 countries. It has been a revolutionizing force in the transport arena of the cities it operates in. It makes driving across the city an easy, affordable and pleasant experience with just one click connecting the driver and the customer. With Uber, riders can also share the costs of their ride with a tap of a button.

With a perfect finish in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie, the Indian Davis Cup team made its way to the World Group play-offs of the Davis Cup. The host nation’s team defeated its Korean rivals with a 4-1 lead.

Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna had already sealed the deal by taking a lead of 3-0, winning the only doubles-match against Seong Chan Hong and Hong Chung by 6-3 6-4 6-4. Saketh Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan had already won their respective singles.

The final day matches were played in Chandigarh where the humid climate proved to be a hassle for both the teams. While Yong-Kyu Lim prevented a Korean whitewash with a gritty 3-6 6-4 6-7(2) win over Ramkumar Ramanathan, Rohan Bopanna aced the match defeating Chung by 3-6 6-4 6-4. Despite losing the tie, the Koreans have to be credited for giving a tough fight to the Indians. Even though they were playing on a foreign land, they gave their best shot in every game.

After the final win, the Indian team celebrated by dancing on popular Bollywood number, much to the delight of their fans. This is the third time that Indian team has reached this stage in the game, they have lost play-offs twice – against Serbia (in 2014, Bangalore) and Czech Republic (in 2015, New Delhi). The team is all set to secure its position in the elite 16-nation World Group.

Cycling is an activity that most of us used to enjoy in our childhood. However, as we grew up recreational activities like this paused, for we became more inclined towards the changing lifestyle of the new technological era. This decrease in the outdoor activities has led to various health issues.

Various researches conducted by scientists have shown that many of these activities have the ability to cut down the risk of the new age diseases. Cycling is one of them.

Recently, a research suggested that Cycling has the potential to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The Research stated that non-cyclists have 20 percent higher risk for T2D than the people who involve themselves in regular cycling. In addition, this activity also helps in lowering the risk of various chronic diseases in the people of all age groups.

Martin Rasmussen from the University of Southern Denmark admitted this and stated that “We find it especially interesting that those who started cycling had a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, given that the study population were men and women of middle and old age”.

Around 24,623 men and 27,890 women from Denmark, between the ages of 50 and 65 were observed in the study whose cycling habits were compared to get the stated results. Hence, it becomes important to motivate people to engage in the outdoor recreational activities that will help them in preventing the development of T2D.

It is high time that one should realize the need to involve in the recreational activity that not only helps in lowering the risk various diseases but also fills a person with energy and keeps him happy and healthy.

Strengthening their Tanzanian partnership, Nokia and Vodacom introduced 4G in Dar es Salaam in May 2016. With this service, Vodacom has become the largest wireless telecommunications network of the country. The services were started in Dar es Salaam on 11 May 2016 and are expected to reach all major cities of Tanzania in the upcoming times.

While Vodacom is looking forward to 200Mbps download speeds as an “eventual goal”, for the present time, it is believed that the network is capable of delivering downlink transmission speeds of up to 70Mbps.

Prior to this launch, the company began testing 4G LTE in 2013 with Nokia Networks. It is expected that the coverage will gradually extend to other major parts of the country as well. Earlier, Nokia also supplied 2G and 3G equipment for Vodacom. Presently, Nokia marks its presence in almost all countries in Africa and is striving hard to expand its reach across other global destinations. It also manages Vodacom’s network in Tanzania.

The Country Senior Officer of Nokia, Pete Beadle said “Nokia is spending 4.5 Billion ‎Euro per annum. That is equivalent to the GDP of Dar Es Salaam. It is a serious investment done to make sure we will continue leading innovation to expand the human possibilities of the connected world.” He also remarked that this launch is an exemplification of the effort Nokia is setting into research and development. The company asserts that it has a vision to lead Tanzania into the digital world and hence make sure that they provide state-of-the-art services across the nation.

Managing Director of Vodacom Tanzania Limited, Mr. Ian Ferrao also remarked that their company wants to contribute towards the nation’s growth and development and said that “Our vision is to lead Tanzania into the digital age and in order to achieve this we are committed to ensure that we deliver the best 4G services available in the Country.”

Understanding the crucial position that network has in the socio-economic development of a nation, this launch has set a milestone in the telecommunications industry of the country.

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